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Schools begin groundwork for mass H1N1 vaccinations

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By Rick McCrabb, Staff Writer Updated 2:21 AM Friday, September 25, 2009

While the arrival date and amount of H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine remains uncertain, the “groundwork” is being done to begin mass voluntary inoculations in area schools, a Butler County health official said Thursday, Sept. 24.

Pat Burg, director of Butler County Health Department, said letters to the superintendents in the eight school districts were mailed last week, notifying them of the upcoming vaccinations. She said the vaccine doses are expected to be available next month. Also, parents would need to sign consent forms for their child to be inoculated.

She said students in private and parochial schools also will be eligible for the vaccinations.

Burg said health and school officials will decide the most effective way to administer the vaccinations.

It’s expected that participating schools would receive the vaccinations at the same time.

Jackie Phillips, nursing director for the Middletown Health Department, said she was unsure when the vaccinations will be delivered. Until then, she said, it’s a “waiting period.”

Dr. William Karwisch, director of the Hamilton City Health Department, said he can’t remember a widespread inoculation “to this extent.”

Burg expected most vaccinations to take place during the school day, but she hopes to offer them also after school when parents of younger children are available.

She said those who receives the initial round of vaccinations — people considered most “at risk” — will be determined by federal guidelines. The “first wave” of inoculations, estimated at 40 million to 45 million, should arrive in mid-October, with additional doses following possibly every week or two weeks.